Bon Appétit Weddings FAQs

Our location on the waterfront means you can enjoy a picturesque backdrop for your ceremony in one of two locations:

  • Upstairs in our Sunset Ballroom with 180 degree views of St. Joseph Sound
  • On the Sunset Pier (outside) the restaurant overlooking the Intracoastal waterways, St, Joseph Sound and Caladesi Island
Of course! We are always happy to create a custom menu for your event. Our pre-made menus are simply a
sample of what we have to offer. We work with you and our chef to create a menu to fit your needs. Bon
Appetit Restaurant can also accommodate any dietary restrictions. Please note that some changes and
substitutions may alter the menu price.
It is Bon Appétit Restaurant house policy that we do not hold a date without a signed contract and deposit.
Under certain circumstances we can put a five-day courtesy hold on a date, though, so please talk to your
event coordinator for details. You can also request to be contacted in the event that another party shows
interest in your tentative date.
Yes, in fact we highly encourage it! At least one of our event coordinators is available daily from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. to talk to you about your event. Our coordinators can also meet with you by appointment outside of
their office hours. Appointments are not required, but are highly encouraged.
The parking lot located between the restaurant and hotel entrances is available for you and your guests.
There is no parking fee. Complimentary valet parking is available most weekends, and can be scheduled by
request. In the case of a by-request scheduling, Bon Appétit Restaurant will split the cost with you to cover the
valets.
Bon Appétit Restaurant is not officially affiliated with the adjacent Best Western Plus Yacht Harbor Inn,
though we do work closely together. For this reason, we cannot arrange any special room rates or packages
for you at the hotel. Please contact the hotel directly in regards to room rates and availability.
Actually, we don’t have a room rental fee. Instead, we use food and beverage minimums so that you’re not
paying to use the room on top of your meals. Food and beverage minimums vary based on the time of day
and day of week, so please contact your event coordinator for specifics.
Bon Appétit Restaurant has two in-house event coordinators who are dedicated to helping you plan the event of your
dreams. We are available to answer any questions that you may have and offer any guidance that you may
need. The event coordinators are your point of contact leading up to the day of your event. On the day of
your event, one of the event coordinators will be present until you arrive to ensure that any last minute
questions get answered. At that point, our banquet captain takes over as your point of contact for the
remainder of the event.
Yes – guests may bring one, 750ml bottle of wine that is not on our wine list. A corkage fee of $25 will be applied.
Bon Appétit Restaurant provides white, ivory or black 90″x90″ square linens & napkins at no additional cost to you. Floor length linen, overlays or other colors and textures may be rented by the client & we will be happy to arrange delivery and set up for you.
Bon Appétit Restaurant’s Crystal Ballroom can accommodate up to 200 people for a heavy hors d’ oeuvres reception. The ideal capacity is 180 people with a sit down dinner and a dance floor, 150 people with a buffet and a dance floor. The Crystal Ballroom can be divided into two smaller rooms to accommodate a more intimate event.
Yes! We have an indoor ceremony location that can accommodate up to 85 people and an outdoor location that can accommodate up to 60 people. Both locations have a water view and overlook St. Joseph Sound and Caladesi Islands and both have gorgeous sunsets.

Marriage License:

Both persons must be present when applying for a marriage license, to sign the application form and take an oath of truthfulness of the information provided. In addition, both must provide proof that each person is at least 18 years of age, has proof of identification, Social Security numbers or Alien Registration Number, and complete the application form.

The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the issue date and the ceremony must be performed between the effective date and the expiration date. Blood tests are not required in the state of Florida.

For additional information visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Wedding Officiants:

Florida law allows the following persons to perform marriage ceremonies:

• All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel, elders in communion with a church, or other ordained clergy,

• All judicial officers, including retired judicial officers, Clerks of the Circuit Courts, and public notaries of this state,

• Quakers or “Friends,” may perform marriages in the manner and form used or practiced in their societies.

For additional information visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

A list of officiant referrals are available from Bon Appétit Weddings.

House Policies and Guidelines

If you cancel within 72 hours of the scheduled event date, you will be responsible to pay for the guaranteed number of guests, or the food and beverage minimum, whichever is greater. If you cancel within any other time prior to the scheduled event date, Bon Appétit Restaurant is entitled to retain all monies paid, including deposits. All cancellations must be signed, dated, and submitted in writing to the Bon Appétit Restaurant Event Coordinators.
Your initial deposit is required prior to the signing of the event contract. Event deposits are nonrefundable.
Deposits will be applied to the total cost of your event. In the case of an event cancellation, all payments and
deposits will be retained by Bon Appétit Restaurant.
Your initial deposit is required prior to the signing of the event contract. Remaining event balances will be
paid as follows: 50% of the food and beverage minimum will be due 90 days prior to your event; 100% of the
food and beverage minimum will be due 60 days prior to your event; the remaining balance will be due 7 days
prior to your event. All of these due dates will be outlined in your event contract. Payments can be made by
credit/debit card, cash, or check. Personal checks cannot be accepted for payment less than 14 days prior to
the event and must be made out to Advantus Restaurant Incorporated. A valid credit card is required to be
kept on file for all events for the purpose of paying for charges accrued during the event such as additional
guests, bar payments, and any potential damages that may occur during the event.
A food and beverage minimum will be established for all functions. If the minimum is not met for your event,
a room rental fee will be charged for the difference. The food and beverage minimum must be met before the
7% sales tax and 20% service charge is added to the amount. Set-up charges (i.e. dance floor set up, charger
plate rental, etc.) are not applied toward the food and beverage minimum if you are not selecting a package.
All charges are subject to a 20% service charge and 7% sales tax. Tax and service charge are subject to change without notice. Service charge is taxable in the state of Florida. It is not necessary to give an additional gratuity since the gratuity is built into the service charge.
Your guaranteed guest count is due 7 days prior to your event. This is considered your minimum
guarantee, and cannot be reduced once it is given. You can continue to add guests to your guest
count up to 12 hours in advance of your event. Payment for your guaranteed guest count is due up to
12 hours in advance of your event. If a guaranteed guest count is not received within seven days of
your event, Bon Appetit Restaurant reserves the right to use the contracted number as your
guaranteed number. Should your guest count exceed your guaranteed final count by more than 5%,
there will be a 30% surcharge (plus 20% service charge and 7% sales tax) added to your final billing
based on your agreed upon per person menu price.
Private Events
Private events taking place in the Crystal Ballroom, or a portion thereof, have a duration of four hours, not
including set-up and take-down of the space. Set-up for each event begins approximately two hours prior to
the contracted event start time. Daytime events take place during any four hour block starting no earlier than
11 a.m. and ending no later than 5 p.m., unless specified in the event contract. Evening events take place
during any four hour block starting no earlier than 5 p.m. and ending no later than midnight, unless specified
in the event contract. If the event exceeds the contracted event time, a $295 overtime charge (plus 20% service
charge and 7% sales tax) will be added to your final bill. Additional hours of event time may be purchased for
$295 (plus 20% service charge and 7% sales tax).
Semi-Private Events
Semi-Private events taking place in the Main Dining Room have a duration of two and a half hours. Hosts are
welcome to arrive up to 30 minutes prior to the contracted event start time to set up for their event. SemiPrivate
events take place during any two and a half hour block starting no earlier than 11:30 a.m. If the event
exceeds the contracted event time, a $195 overtime charge (plus 20% service charge and 7% sales tax) will be
added to your final bill.
In the case of events where no food or beverage will be served, there will be a $500 room rental fee applied for
every four hours of room use. Plus a $75.00 per server fee for a four hour event.
You are allowed to decorate the room for your event. Tacks and nails are not allowed when applying
decoration to the walls, doors, ceilings, or other surfaces of the Ballroom. No loose glitter, confetti, sand, bird
seed, rice, or similar decoration are permitted.
The event host is required to provide Bon Appétit Restaurant with the name and contact information for any
and all outside vendors contracted for your event. Bon Appétit Restaurant’s Crystal Ballroom is equipped to
accommodate up to a trio of musicians, plus a singer. No outside entertainment is allowed for events taking
place in the Semi-Private Main Dining Room. All vendors are required to load and unload using the back
staircase. Bon Appétit Restaurant does not have an freight elevator for vendor use. Vendor vehicles and
services cannot interfere with the experience of the a la carte dining guests. Bon Appétit Restaurant is not
responsible for any damages or injury caused due to the negligence of your vendors or guests.
No outside alcohol is allowed onto the Bon Appétit Restaurant property. Florida law requires that guests be a
minimum of 21 years old to consume alcoholic beverages. Bon Appétit Restaurant reserves the right to refuse
service of alcohol to anyone including the host/hosts of the event. The Restaurant also reserves the right to
request proper identification should the age of a guest be in question.
No outside food is allowed on Bon Appétit Restaurant property, with the exception of wedding or specialty
cakes purchased through a licensed vendor. Bon Appétit Restaurant House Policy states that there will be a
required service fee of $4 per person (plus 20% service charge and 7% sales tax) applied to any cakes brought
into the Restaurant.
Send-Offs and Exits
Sparkler, Bubble, and other similar exits are allowed at Bon Appétit Restaurant, but must take place outside.
Such send-offs and exits must not interfere with Bon Appétit Restaurant’s a la carte dining guests. The event
host is responsible for coordinating the send-off & clean up. Bon Appétit Restaurant is not responsible for
any damage incurred during these exits.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed inside any of Bon Appetit Restaurant’s facilities. A smoking area is designated outside
to the left of the outdoor bar.
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